Category: Ridgewood Schools

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Flash Flood Watch Till 11am in Ridgewood

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file photo by Boyd Loving

Flood Watch
National Weather Service New York NY
353 AM EDT Mon Jul 24 2017

…Flash flooding possible this morning…

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT THIS
MORNING…

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of northeast New Jersey and southeast New York,
including the following areas, in northeast New Jersey,
Eastern Bergen, Eastern Essex, Eastern Passaic, Eastern Union,
Hudson, Western Bergen, Western Essex, Western Passaic, and
Western Union. In southeast New York, Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn),
New York (Manhattan), Northern Nassau, Northern Queens,
Northwestern Suffolk, Orange, Richmond (Staten Island),
Rockland, Southern Nassau, Southern Queens, Southern
Westchester, and Southwestern Suffolk.

* Until 11 AM EDT this morning

* An area of low pressure along a frontal boundary will pass just
south and east of Long Island. Rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches
an hour are possible and may lead to flash flooding for the New
York City metropolitan area. Flash flooding will also be
possible for portions of the Lower Hudson Valley.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should flash flood warnings be issued.

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Lead in Water Detected in 47 Bergen school districts including Ridgewood

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July 24,2017

the staff of the Rmidgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Lead has been detected in more than half of the water fountains and sinks in 47 school districts in Bergen County, including Ridgewood according to a new report by Environment New Jersey an environmental advocacy group.

In April the Ridgewood blog reported on the test results in the Ridgewood school system . The State of New Jersey requires all drinking water in our school facilities to be tested for lead during the 2016-2017 school year.

The majority of the districts surveyed by Environment New Jersey had at least one fountain or sink where lead readings exceeded 15 parts per billion , that is the level set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that requires districts to take some action.

Most school districts shut down water fountains, replaced pipes and plumbing fixtures or installed filters to reduce the levels. Most of the time lead contamination does not come from water suppliers, but rather from old pipes and plumbing fixtures.

Eight of the 10 schools in the Ridgewood school system had at least one lead reading above the federal standard.

Politicians have of coarse jumped on the bandwagon ,led by Democrat Senator Booker ,  Democrat Congressman Josh Gottheimer  and State Sen. Bob Gordon, D-Fair Lawn all have pushed for more funds ie increased taxes to save the day .

Questions arise as to where these politicians have been the last 10 years ? The Ridgewood School district has shown positive results every time they test . It seems old pipes and even older buildings are often the source . Senator Booker did nothing about the led problem the entire time he was Mayor of Newark ?

The lead in water issue seems like most things in New Jersey , ignore the problem then when it promises new funding act like it just happened and the New Jersey media blames the governor .

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Professor: Students Are Becoming Moral Nihilists

Ridgewood Police Continue to Seek Clues "Swastika" Graffiti

file photo by Boyd Loving

Are well-meaning teachers unintentionally producing moral nihilism in their students?

Richard Cocks

One thing I’ve learned in my years of teaching in the U.S. is that many young Americans are moral relativists. As students in elementary and secondary schools, they were taught that there is no moral fact of the matter. Thus, when people disagree about moral issues, their different perspectives are equally valid. It would be wrong to criticize anyone from another culture who sees things differently.

For example, my son’s high school English teacher wanted her students to say that child slavery in Ghana is morally permissible, the unstated premise being that there are no absolute moral principles that apply to all cultures at all times and places. In my college teaching, I often encounter the results of such thinking.

If I leave students’ relativism unchallenged and ask “Was the Holocaust evil and immoral?” many students will say “No.” “Was slavery evil and immoral?” I ask. Students often respond, “No. At the time people thought it was moral; society said it was moral, so it was moral.”

I often describe female genital mutilation, practiced in places like rural Sudan and argue that it is immoral because it is painful, involuntary, can lead to infection and death and removes the possibility of feeling sexual pleasure. Thus, this practice is immoral. But my students frequently respond, “That’s just your perspective. The Sudanese would be unlikely to agree with you.”

Read more at: https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/professor-students-are-becoming-moral-nihilists © IntellectualTakeout.org

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CHRISTIE’S CHARTER LEGACY: A CLEAR RECORD OF GROWTH

School Choice by ArtChick

photo by ArtChick

JOHN MOONEY | JULY 18, 2017

In the eight years the governor has headed up state government, charter school enrollment has more than doubled

When Gov. Chris Christie leaves office in six months, one of his clear legacies will be the growth of charter schools in New Jersey, with school enrollment more than doubling in his eight years in office.

Yesterday, his administration finished the job, announcing the final approval of five more schools to open this fall. That brings to 89 the number of charters that will be open when Christie steps down in January.

That number isn’t that big an increase from the 70 in place in 2010 at the start of Christie’s tenure, a number that jumped to over 90 in his first year. But his administration ultimately closed nearly 20 charter schools as well.

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/17/07/18/christie-s-charter-legacy-a-clear-record-of-growth/

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50 Top Ranked Colleges That Pay Off the Least

RHS 2017

By Charles Stockdale July 13, 2017 8:26 pm EDT

For a special few Americans, such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg, completing college was unnecessary — perhaps even a hindrance — to their vision and success. Most people, however, consider college to be fundamental to achieving their goals and doing well in life

In fact, the number of people attending degree-granting postsecondary institutions has grown to 17 million – a 30% increase since 2000, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Not all college degrees translate to financial success, however. In addition to nearly 70% of students graduating with debt in recent years, many graduates of even the country’s top-ranked schools are earning comparatively low salaries in the working world.

The average median salary for graduates who completed a four-year degree at one of the 206 schools the U.S. News & World Report considers to be the best national universities and national liberal arts colleges is nearly $54,000 a decade after graduating. Graduates from the 50 schools that produce the highest earners bring in nearly $70,000 on average.

On the other end of the spectrum, graduates from 84 schools report a median annual earnings of less than $50,000 a decade after entering school. Graduates from 15 schools report median earnings of less than $40,000 a year, and graduates from three less than $30,000.

In addition to being unable to promise high wages for students later in life, many colleges frequently increase tuition. Barely two decades ago, average tuition for a four-year private college or university was less than $15,000. Today, nearly three-quarters of the top ranked schools charged over $40,000 in tuition and fees in the 2016-2017 school year. This includes 33 of the schools that produced the lowest-earning graduates.

Click here to see the top ranked colleges that pay off the least.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

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Could be Ridgewood: Wealthy Minnesota School District Treating Its Students Like Racists

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Daniel Lattier | July 14, 2017

In May, I reported on the controversial social justice curriculum being taught to young students in Edina Public Schools—a wealthy suburban district in Minnesota considered to be among the state’s best.

At Edina’s Highlands Elementary this past year, students—even kindergartners and first-graders—were made to participate in a number of projects designed to teach them about their racial privilege and encourage them to become activists.

I had my suspicions why a school district would deem it necessary to subject kindergartners to such a curriculum, and to teach them to view the world primarily through the lens of race.

My suspicions were confirmed by Michael Seaman, a teacher and architect of the program in the district. Basically, he assumes that these young students may already be racists.

In an email to me, Mr. Seaman asked “Why do you object to teaching social justice in all classrooms?” and then wrote “I’ve linked an article for your perusal regarding the early onset of racial bias.”

Read more at: https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/wealthy-minnesota-school-district-treating-its-students-racists © IntellectualTakeout.org

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Ridgewood Teen Selected as Humane Education Contest Winner

Save a Baby, Save a Species

July 12,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), theHumane Education Network (HEN) and the Palo Alto Humane Society officially announced today the winners of the 2017 A Voice for Animals contest. The annual contest provides high school students aged 14-18 with the opportunity to win monetary awards for essay, video, or photography submissions advocating against animal cruelty and for prevention of animal suffering.

“We are proud to announce the winners of the 2017 A Voice for Animals contest,” said Regina Terlau, executive assistant at AWI. “Through the contest, we aim to inspire youth to raise awareness about animals in need through a creative medium. We received a lot of phenomenal submissions from students addressing mistreatment of an animal species, prevention of an animal’s extinction, or solutions to reduce animal suffering. The chosen student submissions truly embody the mission of the contest and we congratulate the students selected.”

Ridgewood teen Myriam Burger won a first place prize in the 2017 A Voice for Animals contest for her video entry, “Save a Baby, Save a Species.” Her entry, which earned her a $650 prize, describes her school fundraiser to sponsor an elephant.

 

The winners of the 2017 A Voice for Animals contest include:

  • Myriam Burger of Ridgewood, New Jersey, who won $650 for her video, “Save a Baby, Save a Species.” Her video, which describes her school fundraiser to sponsor an elephant, earned first place in the “Video” category.

 

 

  • Lisa Wang of Toronto, Canada, who won $500 for her video, “The Buzz About Bees.” Her submission, which brought awareness to the importance of pollinators and described her involvement with pollinator conservation, earned second prize in the “Video” category.

 

  • Naomi Chongsiriwatana of Los Angeles, California, who won $450for her essay, “When the Powerful are Crushed.” Her submission, which educates readers on the mistreatment of captive elephants and exposes the truth of Thailand’s most popular tourism activity, earned her first prize in the “Essay” category.

 

  • Olivia Banks of Nottingham, Maryland, who won $350 for her essay,“Cozy Condos for Feral Felines.” Her submission, which examines feral cat population issues and “trap, neuter and release” programs, earned her first prize in the “Essay/Photography” category.

 

“Every year, we are impressed and encouraged by the commitment that young people show to animal issues through their submissions,” said Jenness Hobart, chair of the board at the Humane Education Network. “We are already looking forward to next year’s entries and continuing to foster students’ interest in showing respect and caring for animals.”

 

For more information on the A Voice for Animals contest and this year’s winners, visit https://www.hennet.org/contest.php.

 

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Princeton University Rated “Best College for the Money”

princeton

July 11,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ in the Best Colleges For Your Money 2017 rankings of 2,400 colleges 711 rated as the “Best Colleges For Your Money” . College is a great investment ,if you choose the right school. According to Money magazine, at $65,300, Princeton University in Princeton, NJ was rated the best value for your dollar. Interestingly enough CUNY Bernard M Baruch College came in a sold second place at about half the price and at a much lower price point with a tab of $31,400.

Find your best college with rankings that combine educational quality, affordability, and alumni success https://time.com/money/best-colleges/rankings/best-colleges/

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2017 RHS Summer New Players opens this weekend!

Little Shop of Horrors

July 11,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, 2017 RHS Summer New Players opens this weekend! Tickets on sale now! Come enjoy Little Shop of Horrors, Baskerville-a Sherlock Holmes Mystery and later in July, The Pajama Game!!!
Senior Citizens $5.00 discount! We would love to have you join us in the lovely air conditioned Little Theatre!!

RHS New Players Company at The Little Theatre ,simply click on the below link when shopping online. After that, you will shop at your favorite online stores and New Players makes a percentage of every purchase.

https://rhsnewplayers.com/

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Out-of-town family must pay school district $38K, state says

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Updated on July 9, 2017 at 8:14 PMPosted on July 9, 2017 at 2:37 PM

BY SARA JERDE

NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

BRIDGEWATER — A family was ordered to pay a school district more than $38,000 after it was discovered that a student was living outside of the district’s lines, the Commissioner of Education recently determined.

The parents, identified only in state documents as “M.K.,” were ordered to pay a full year’s tuition, or $38,329.20 to the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.

https://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2017/07/family_must_pay_school_district_more_than_38k_for.html#incart_river_mobile_home

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Reader says at Ridge School every time they examine this problem, the “solution” it makes it worse

clinton ave

file photo Clinton Ave

In true Ridge tradition, every time they examine this problem, the “solution” results in one or more of the following:
– reduced parking spaces (more are needed not less)
– additional costs and/or restrictions/ordinances imposed on the parents
– a net negative impact on the surrounding neighbors
– new or increased penalties/fines
Which always result in
– a worsening of the situation

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Ridge School Traffic Gets a Look

Ridgewood_Police_theridgewoodblog
file photo by Boyd Loving
July 6,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, for years the Village has looked for ways to get more traffic off West Ridgewood Ave and onto school property in a more timely fashion.

Village and School officials got together and issued the Ridge School Traffic report , in an attempt to come to grips of a long time issue of school pickup traffic blocking West Ridgewood Avenue .

Some new ordinances were proposed , a “Dont block the box between Murry and West Ridgewood ” , in addition the Village will enact title 39 on all school properties which will allow police to issue tickets for improper parking.

Also there will be a single cue going in and then it will divided by grade . A new crossing guard will also be added .

In testimony Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser called it an “evolving process ”

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Jamboree Scholarship Fund rewarded a record 40 need-based scholarships to RHS seniors

Jamboree 2017

July 6,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Jamboree Board would like to congratulate the Ridgewood High School Class of 2017, and thank all citizens and local business that gave so generously to benefit students of our town.

This year, the Jamboree Scholarship Fund rewarded a record 40 need-based scholarships to RHS seniors. This would not have been possible without all the hard work of RHS parent Jamboree volunteers. College costs have skyrocketed over the past years, and these scholarships can make a real difference to the recipients – so your contributions make a positive impact!

Please consider donating next year, and support our local businesses that support Jamboree and our incredibly talented students.

So thanks again to all our Jamboree contributors and volunteers. Congratulations RHS grads!

Jamboree Scholarship Fund, Inc, a 501(c )(3) charitable organization

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District boasts above-average dyslexia detection and response program

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Ryan Stolz, CorrespondentPublished 9:44 a.m. ET July 1, 2017 | Updated 9:44 a.m. ET July 1, 2017

In a presentation to the Board of Education Monday night, Director of Special Services Dr. Kim Turner detailed the process in which Ridgewood Public Schools tests kids for Dyslexia.

According to Turner, the testing process, and the way in which Ridgewood ensures students are being properly aided in the classroom, goes well beyond what the State of New Jersey requires by law.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/ridgewood/2017/07/01/district-boasts-above-average-dyslexia-detection-and-response-program/436061001/

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Reader says the Ridgewood School district has said it has the power to redistrict at any point

willard school

I am not sure what you are arguing here? Chestnut Village and the one discussed here (KS broad street) are zoned Ridge. Dayton (down Broad) is zoned Orchard and the Enclave on Maple is zoned Sommerville. That said, the district has said it has the power to redistrict at any point.

The town has not cared about the chaos at Ridge for as long as I have lived here…done nothing about it….all of a sudden 80 new apartments is hardly going to cause anyone to care.??.